Bossa Nova - Tribute to João Gilberto by Mario Bakuna - Live at The Bull's Head

Mario Bakuna on Acoustic Guitar and Vocals

Mario Bakuna performs a concert dedicated to João Gilberto who was a pioneer of the musical genre of Bossa Nova in the late 1950s. Around the world, he was often called “father of Bossa Nova”.

Gilberto’s style combines traditional elements of samba with more contemporary jazz. His unique acoustic guitar style involves a syncopated rhythm of plucked chords, with chord progressions rooted in the jazz tradition. Mario will present reinterpretations of some of his compositions and celebrate with the audience one of the greatest Brazilian musicians of all time.

Mario Bakuna is a Brazilian composer, arranger, singer, and guitarist currently based in London. Over the past few years, he has emerged as a leading figure and a key reference in the UK’s Brazilian jazz scene. Renowned for his deep exploration of traditional Brazilian rhythms, samba, jazz, and bossa nova, Mario captures the spirit of Brazilian swing, blending it with refined jazz colours in both his original compositions and fresh arrangements of works by iconic artists such as Tom Jobim, Dorival Caymmi, Paulo Moura, and João Donato. Mario has built a distinctive international career, enchanting audiences in both intimate jazz clubs and on grand festival stages around the world, reaching audiences of up to 150,000 people. He has collaborated with leading artists including Guinga, Daniel Jobim, Nelson Ayres, and Robertinho Silva, and his albums Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia and Brazilian Landscapes highlight his unique fusion of tradition and contemporary jazz. His captivating live performances seamlessly unite tradition and modern groove, resulting in a sound that is unmistakably his own and resonates with audiences worldwide. (https://www.mariobakuna.com)

“Mario Bakuna, a sparkling guitarist, plays with palpable feeling - his virtuosic fluency on the fretboard is controlled and flourishes are perfectly placed. His voice has a texture like heavy cloth”. (Songlines Magazine)

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